Team News: Play On The Pitch 2016

The teams are in ahead of our annual Play on the Pitch game at Victoria Park as two sets of supporters get set to go head-to-head on the hallowed turf.

Craig Hignett will take charge of the Home Team for Tuesday night’s encounter, while Curtis Fleming will be in the opposition dugout as head of the Away Team.

Pools boss Hignett has made no secret of his determination to play fast and attacking football so he will be asking his players to perform on the big stage.

Meanwhile, Fleming may opt for a more defensive approach with his charges as he looks to get one of over on Hignett in this friendly contest.

Home Team

David Brown gets the nod to start in goal for the Home Team and he’ll be hoping that a back four made up of fellow debutants Richard Boddy, Steven Moir-Young, Nick Leitch and Scott Thompson can offer adequate protection.

Where the defence lacks in experience, there is no such trouble in midfield for Hignett’s side; Robert Leck and Lee Sweeney are both making their third appearances on the right and left of midfield respectively, while Matthew Smith is back for a fourth season in the engine room alongside rookie Adam Garrington.

Darren Rowbotham is one of just two players who have appeared in each of the previous six Play on the Pitch games and he lends his experience to Hignett’s attack, where he will be partnered by Jack McLean who has three appearances under his belt.

Away Team

Dan Wilson returns for a second appearance between the sticks for the Away Team; Scott Kenny is back for a third time operating at right-back, while Joe McNaughton steps in at left-back. Brothers Chris and Mark Loynes will pair up in the centre of defence.

It will be interesting to see how Mark Bell adapts to his new role in the centre of midfield after making his two previous appearances in goal. He’ll be partnered in the middle of the park by debutant Scott Robinson, while Mikey Kenny and Liam Clode also appear for the first time on the wings.

Up front, Curtis Fleming boasts the clear goal threat of Ashley Holland who is making his third appearance and he’ll be joined in attack by Paul Kenny who scored his first goal in six appearances in last year’s game and has never finished on the losing side.